Legendary Liverpoool music club Eric's is to reopen after closing its doors 31 years ago.

Owner and managing director John Lynch, along with musical director Ethan Allen and promoter Lee Butler are hard at work researching every detail of the original club.

John said: “Eric’s is part of Liverpool’s musical heritage and we want to return it to its former glory.

"It’s being recreated in the image of the original venue but we’ll have to bring certain things up to date, the venue will have air conditioning and they’ll be showers for the dressing rooms.

"Just like the old Eric’s we too want to provide a stage for talented local bands so Eric’s can become part of their musical history,” said John.

The iconic club opened in 1976 with the backing of Roger Eagle, Ken Testi and Pete Fulwell; it would become synonymous with the punk era.

But despite closing its doors after only four years, its influence on the music scene was remarkable.

With early gigs from Blondie, Buzzcocks, The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Jam, Joy Division, The Police, The Sex Pistols, The Stranglers and U2.

It was with the local bands that the club would have its greatest impact as it helped launch the careers of Echo and the Bunnymen, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Pete Burns, Pete Wylie and Teardrop Explodes.

While band members from Big in Japan would later be linked with Frankie goes to Hollywood, the KLF, The Lightning Seeds and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Ethan said: “Eric’s was so special because it played music you just couldn’t hear anywhere else.

"It wasn’t just about the punk rock, there was jazz, reggae and folk music. They had performance art and poetry. Craig Charles got his first break there by reading poetry between the acts. We want to make Eric’s special again.”